Italian envoy hosts Ugandans to National Day

By John Semakula

Added 4th June 2019 03:16 PM

Diplomats and high-profile Ugandans who attended the event, included Elioda Tumwesigye, the science minister, US ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Diplomats and high-profile Ugandans who attended the event, included Elioda Tumwesigye, the science minister, US ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba with Fonara. Photos by Karim Ssozi

The event was supposed to kick off at 6:30pm, but by 5:00pm, guests had arrived at the venue. They were treated to soft Italian music, food and an assortment of drinks, including juice and wines as they interacted till late in the night.

The outgoing Italian ambassador, Domenico Fornara, jokingly noted that no embassy in town beats him at organising parties, throwing his guests into laughter.

Guests being served dinner

"I claim to be the one who organises the best parties in town. If anyone challenges me, he or she will face consequences," he said while hosting Ugandan friends and diplomats for the 73rd Italian National Day at his residence in Kololo, a city suburb, on Friday.

The day falls on June 2, but was celebrated on Friday. Fornara, who is described as a "friendly gentleman" by many Ugandans and ‘wise man' by his countrymen, is leaving Uganda for further deployment. Fornara is also the Italian ambassador to Rwanda and Burundi.

Guests at the event

Diplomats and high-profile Ugandans who attended the event, included Elioda Tumwesigye, the science minister, US ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Tumwesigye, who represented foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, commended Fornara for consolidating the great relations between Italy and Uganda.

"You may leave today, but feel free to return to Uganda any time to meet your friends or travel around the country to see wild game," Tumwesigye said. He later asked his host to toast to the good health of the top leadership of the two countries.

Tumwesigye also thanked Italy for supporting Uganda's health sector and peace and security in the region. Italy has injected over sh50b into the construction of staff houses for health workers in the Karamoja region, the ambassador said.

Tumwesigye said Italy is also a major contributor to humanitarian activities in the region, with its police playing a significant role in training officers of the Uganda Police Force, including those serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).